Junior Middleweight

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (42-0, 26 KOs) will challenge Miguel Cotto (37-2, 30 KOs) for his WBA junior middleweight title and the vacant WBC Diamond belt on May 5th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. 

It will be Mayweather's second time venturing into the junior middleweight class for a title in five years. The last time he fought there was against Oscar De La Hoya in the biggest-selling pay-per-view match in boxing history. 

In challenging Cotto, Mayweather will be leaving the welterweight division and his welterweight title—which he won from Victor Ortiz last September—unattended.

The WBC needs to take a stand for once and strip Mayweather of his belt so that other fighters can have a chance at winning it. It's something the council should do, but it's highly unlikely that it will. 

It was thought that the WBC would be stripping Mayweather of his title early last year when he took a plea deal and was sentenced to prison for the alleged beating of his ex-girlfriend. The WBC went against its own rules and regulations—which state that when a champion is jailed, the boxer is stripped of his title—and allowed Mayweather to hold on to his belt.

It's unlikely that Mayweather would defend the belt until the late fall, because after Mayweather leaves prison, he'd have to adjust to being released, then the WBC would have to find an opponent and have training camp.

Even if that was to happen, it's thought that Mayweather's next opponent could be Saul Alvarez, another junior middleweight champion, if both men win on May 5th.

Mayweather is basically holding the belt hostage at this point. It will have been more than a year before he would even be able to defend it.

There are several fighters that could generate more interest in the division if they held a title or even just fought for one. Examples include Kell Brook, Devon Alexander, the match between Robert Guerrero and Selcuk Aydin, the Andre Berto vs. Victor Ortiz rematch and Amir Khan if he moves up to welterweight.

The longer the WBC lets Mayweather hold the belt, the longer it's wasted on somebody who won't even defend it. It needs to strip him so that other fighters can have a chance to fight for a world title.

Feel free to discuss your opinion on the matter below.

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Floyd "Money" Mayweather (42-0, 26 KOs) will be taking on Miguel Cotto (37-2, 30 KOs) on May 5 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cotto will be defending his WBA title against the undefeated superstar in what is billed to be one of the biggest events of the year.

It was initially only supposed to be for Cotto's WBA belt, but the WBC had other plans of getting their hands in on the action.

The WBC recently announced that the they will be putting their junior middleweight diamond belt on the line for the winner of the fight.

The WBC diamond belt was created in September of 2009 and is an honorary belt that is meant to be only up for grabs between two high-profile boxers. 

It seems that this is just another one of the WBC's tricks to get their hands on some more money through sanctioning fees. It is most likely going to have sanctioning fees attached to it because this is the same belt that Manny Pacquiao won back in 2009 when he fought Miguel Cotto. He won the WBO and WBC diamond belt that night.

So, the meeting between these two fighters definitely qualifies as high-profile. I just feel like there is another reason why the WBC did this besides sanctioning fees.

Canelo Alvarez is the 154-lb regular champion and has been itching to get a mega-fight for some time now. He was first brought up as an opponent for Mayweather in the closing weeks of his deal with Cotto. If a financial deal couldn't be struck with Cotto, they were going to go with Plan B, Alvarez.

Now that the WBC diamond belt is on the line, the winner of the fight now has a perfect reason to fight Canelo after May 5. Whoever wins stands to have another huge pay day, the possibility of winning the vacant junior middleweight title and becoming the lineal champion of the weight class.

Floyd Mayweather will defeat Miguel Cotto for the junior middleweight title May 5th at the MGM Grand. 

Consider that statement in permanent marker. Place your bets (with Monopoly money) accordingly.

When the main focus of Mayweather-Cotto is the potential of a Mayweather-Pacquiao matchup, the public has no faith in Cotto.  The pride of Puerto Rico certainly has his work cut out for him to prove doubters otherwise.

If "right place, right time" has any significance, Cotto has the odds stacked against him. The bout will take place at the MGM Grand. Coincidentally, the only two losses in Cotto’s career have taken place at, wait for it…the MGM Grand.

To make matters worse, Cotto’s opponent "Money Mayweather," is no stranger to the Vegas strip or the MGM. He’s had his last eight fights in Sin City, including his previous six at the exact same venue. Of course, all those bouts have resulted in victories.

It’s safe to say "Pretty Boy" can handle Vegas’ bright lights. 

When in doubt, the Vegas sportsbooks are usually a good indicator. Cotto is slated as a 6-1 underdog on multiple books. Talk about a mismatch.

Cotto stands to make $30 million from facing Mayweather, a "consolation" prize even if he has to take a beating for it. Sounds like a butt-kicking I’d be willing to take as well.

Even though Mayweather may not be where he once was, his conservative style will win the day against most fighters out there. He will come in with the confidence that he’s the best in the world, justified by his unblemished WBO record. "Money" is one of the greatest boxing defenders of all time, and he can take a punch with the best of them.

Those skills will come in handy against Cotto, who has not been able to enter boxing’s top tier since suffered at the hands of Antonio Margarito almost four years ago. Loaded gloves or not, Cotto was a 2-to-1 favorite in that matchup and went down like the Berlin Wall.

The junior middleweight champion would be getting a huge monkey off of his back with a victory over boxing’s No. 1 star this May.

In recent boxing history, though, upsets only happen in Hollywood.

Cotto will go down in Las Vegas.

Floyd Mayweather and Miguel Cotto will clash for the WBA 154-pound world title on May 5. Mayweather is favored to win due to his smarts and his speed.

Saul "Canelo" Alvarez will clash with "Sugar" Shane Mosley for the WBC portion of the 154-pound world title on the undercard. Alvarez's youth is expected to conquer Old Man Mosley's experience.

The outcome of these two fights is not the biggest question in boxing. The biggest question in boxing is, "What will happen next?"

Mayweather (42-0, 26 KO) reports to jail on June 1 to serve a 90-day sentence for domestic violence. He can get 30 days off for good behavior. If that happens, Mayweather could be out before August. Alvarez (39-0-1, 29 KO) wants to return to the ring by Sept. 15 to fight near Mexican Independence Day, the second-biggest weekend in boxing outside of Cinco de Mayo.

Mayweather could be his opponent. Fighting that close to his release may seem preposterous, but Mayweather can be ready and shouldn't miss out on such a good money-making holiday.

Mayweather was given allowance by the court to move the start date of his sentence back five months to accommodate an economy-boosting fight. Surely, the justice system will allow him time to train. Roger Mayweather, Mayweather's uncle and trainer, may be given extra visitation privileges to help keep the undefeated titlist in shape. Mayweather, at 35, isn't getting any younger.

A lot has been made about Alvarez fighting a 40-year-old Mosley (46-7-1, 39 KO), but Mosley has what many in the 154-pound division don't have—experience.

James Kirkland (31-1, 27 KO) has been brought up as a potential opponent for Alvarez, but Kirkland brings nothing except his power. Kirkland's chin is questionable in light of him being stopped in the first round by a light-hitting Japanese journeyman—Nobuhiro Ishida (24-7-2, 9 KO).

His skills are also in question following a controversial disqualification win over Carlos Molina (19-5-2, 6 KO)—a fighter who was beating him before the fight was stopped.

Alvarez's patience would easily exterminate Kirkland. There is no slick, classic boxing counter-puncher who can get Alvarez ready for Mayweather. Mosley is the closet fighter he can face. Mosley was able to move backward and avoid a knockout loss to Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO). He was also able to rock Mayweather in the second round of their fight.

Should Alvarez knock Mosley out without experiencing any major trouble, he will have passed the ultimate test that says he's able to compete with Mayweather.

Mayweather himself will be a 35-year-old coming out of jail. That should counteract Mayweather's advantage in experience and ring smarts. Alvarez's power and youth will also help even the odds.

Along with the fight being near a major Mexican holiday, HBO's award-winning documentary series, 24/7, would get footage of Mayweather training in jail. That could generate a lot of interest. Mike Tyson benefited deeply from his first fight coming out of jail in 1995. He fought a no-name and still generated 1.55 million pay-per-view sales.

If Mayweather comes out of jail to face Alvarez, their fight will have no limit to what it can do. Throw in Cotto vs. Mosley II on the undercard, and Mayweather-Alvarez will be another must-see PPV. 

If Alvarez knocks Mosley out and Mayweather trains while in prison, a Sept. 15 meeting in the ring should be on their calendars.

Miguel Cotto faces an extremely difficult task come May 5th in Las Vegas. Cotto will be facing Floyd Mayweather, the No.1 fighter in the world on my p4p list.

Last I checked, Cotto is about a 5:1 underdog against Mayweather. So, how can Cotto pull off the upset?

Here's how. 

Earlier today I had some free time, and with a recent subscription to HBO Go, I decided to re-watch Cotto's last fight against Antonio Margarito. This time, I really tried to focus on Cotto's game plan and how he executed it against the Tijuana Tornado. 

As I watched Cotto, it became clear that his strategy was to keep the fight in the center of the ring and not allow Margarito to bang on the inside or get him to the ropes.

In fact, almost every time they got tied up or near the ropes, Cotto dug in and drove his legs forward in order to use his bullish strength and superior leverage to push Margarito, who is a large guy, much bigger than Mayweather, wherever he wanted him. 

Cotto followed this game plan almost perfectly. Upon close examination, you'll see that he really did do a fantastic job of staying 100 percent disciplined, fighting the perfect fight and following trainer Pedro Diaz's instructions to a T. 

Now, how does this strategy translate to the Mayweather fight?

Well, it doesn't. Not directly, at least.

However, Miguel Cotto showed that he is extremely strong and has the ability to control a fighter's position around the ring when he wants to.

He is able to manhandle his foes when they get in close, and having the strength advantage over Mayweather will allow him to use his lower body to position Floyd where he wants him.

This all hinges on Miguel following the game plan, which is to bully Floyd to the ropes and swing away. Cotto will need to constantly move Floyd to the ropes, be mentally strong and follow instructions. The moment you have a mental lapse against Floyd, he'll take advantage of it.

Just ask Victor Ortiz how losing focus against Money May turned out for him.

The blueprint to beat Mayweather lies in his first fight with Jose Luis Castillo almost a decade ago—a fight in which Castillo was able to bang away at Floyd against the ropes in a fight many thought Floyd lost.

If Cotto can use his superior strength, weight advantage and punching power while staying disciplined and quick, he has a good shot to defeat Floyd and prove the experts wrong.

Ask yourself this, if Cotto could manage to stay disciplined enough to fight a perfect fight and stay within himself against a man he absolutely detested in Margarito, why can't he do the same against Floyd, where he'll be cool-headed?

While Floyd is clearly much more talented than Margarito, I just have a sneaking suspicion that Cotto and trainer Pedro Diaz know what they're doing and will show the world that Floyd can be defeated.

Tune in on May 5th to see what happens.  

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Erik Morales weighed in at 142 pounds, two pounds over the 140-pound weight limit for his bout with Danny Garcia on Saturday in Houston, TX, resulting in Morales being stripped of his WBC junior middleweight belt.

According to Dan Rafael of ESPN, Morales (52-7, 36 KOs) never tried to burn the two pounds off and was subsequently docked $50,000 from his $1 million purse, which will be added on to Garcia's (22-0, 14 KOs) purse of $175,000, making his total purse $225,000.

Morales appeared to not care too much about losing his belt, which was the fourth belt he has held in four different divisions, making him the first Mexican fighter to own a belt in four different weight classes.

Morales told ESPN, via a translator:

I'm not too worried about the belt; the important thing is the fight, I already won the fourth belt so it doesn't matter to me.

He also addressed the weight issue, showing little remorse:

I was in position to save the fight or the belt but it's more important to save the fight. If I tried to make the weight by taking off those two pounds it would have really affected me in the fight. It wasn't worth the sacrifice at this point for the last couple of pounds. It would hurt me. No point.

Morales' attitude about losing his belt, in the eyes of the boxing world, is viewed as an act of disrespect to the sport, but I can see where Morales is coming from.

Losing two pounds would mean Morales would be forced to wear a sweatsuit and do some form of cardio to try to melt away the two pounds necessary to make weight, which could result in fatigue going into the fight.

With Garcia entering the first title fight of his career, he should be expected to come in giving his all in the bout. If Morales were to experience any ill effects due to dropping a measly two pounds and lose the fight with that on his mind, it would be far worse than being stripped of his belt.

Morales is the one that has to deal with the consequences he knew would be levied upon him for not attempting to shed the mandatory two pounds. So, if he can stand losing the belt and the docked pay, then that is all that matters.

People are making a bigger deal out of Morales not caring about the belt than it actually is.

This year was tough on two of Mexico’s best boxing stars, Antonio Margarito and Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo. Both fighters’ once promising careers are in limbo as they are coming off losses in 2011.  Maybe the solution to their problems is to face each other in an all-Mexican war. 

Antonio Margarito’s career has been in a downward spiral ever since he was caught trying to load his gloves against Shane Mosley. He has lost three of his last four fights, and has had serious problems with his eye ever since Manny Pacquiao crushed it. 

Antonio Margarito may have a hard time getting cleared for a boxing license in the U.S. considering that his eye has been severely damaged two fights in a row. If he wants to box again he may be forced to fight his next bout in his home country of Mexico.

Margarito is in desperate need of an impressive knockout victory if he wants to prove to doubters that his success in the ring isn’t due to illegal plaster wraps. Alfredo Angulo might just be the perfect opponent for Antonio Margarito.

Alfredo Angulo has been on the brink of stardom several times, but losses to Kermit Cintron and James Kirkland have stalled his attainment of greatness. 

He’s coming off of a stunning KO loss to Kirkland, and he needs to beat a legitimate contender if he wants to resume his dream of being considered a great fighter. A win against Margarito would make Angulo a relevant threat in the junior middleweight division again.    

Margarito and Angulo are both rough fighters that like to bully their opponents. Their styles are extremely similar, which means that this fight would be a guarantee to be an action-packed bout. I think that everyone would tune in to see this matchup. 

While this fight could seriously benefit one of these boxers’ careers, it could seriously damage the others. This would be a high risk/reward fight, but both men are desperate to reignite their careers.  Looking good in this matchup would accomplish that task.

The last time Mexico saw an epic battle between two of its countrymen would have to be the brilliant trilogy between Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera. These two fighters became household names because of their battles against each other. 

If this bout gets made, then Angulo vs. Margarito might be the second coming of the Morales/Barrera battles. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that this fight comes to fruition.   

WBA junior middleweight (154 lbs) world champion Miguel Cotto (37-2, 30 KO) is the third-biggest superstar in boxing behind the likes of Floyd Mayweather (42-0, 26 KO) and Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO).

This means many people will call him out in hopes of obtaining a payday. Most recently, IBF junior middleweight world champ Cornelius Bundrage (30-4, 18 KO) has called out Cotto according to Boxing Scene.

Bundrage recognized that Cotto was planning on facing Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (44-0-1, 31 KO) in a bid to become the first Puerto Rican to win a world title in a fourth weight class.

Bundrage made an interesting counterargument as to why Cotto shouldn't chase Chavez Jr. Here's what Bundrage said:

"Cotto should fight me next. Guys like Chavez are a lot bigger than him at middleweight. I know Mexico and Puerto Rico makes a big fight but he should fight me. I am his size and I am an older fighter. At this stage of his career he needs to choose his opponents carefully. He shouldn't get in there with a real young guy. Plus if he beats me the Chavez fight is still there for him."

My Two Cents

That's embarrassing. Bundrage has resorted to ripping his own self apart as a fighter to plow big-money fights into being. That's not becoming of a proud Detroit champion like himself.

He's almost 40, so I feel his desperation but he needs to fight more. He's fought once a year for longer than Mayweather has and he's no Mayweather.

Judging by his begging, he's nowhere close to making a million-dollar payday in his fights. I understand someone his age needs to pick his fights carefully, but fighting once a year won't cut it.

He needs to face a champion himself. Right now, Zaurbek Baysangurov (26-1, 20 KO) holds the interim WBO 154 lb title. Bundrage KO'd him in five rounds three years ago.

Bundrage should be able to go to the man's home of Russia and knock his block off again or lure Baysangurov into a unification match in Detroit.

Baysangurov was made full champion not too long ago. This means Bundrage will have the full WBO belt, not a silver or secondary belt of some sort.

That makes Bundrage one of three champs young hungry fighters with HBO dates (Kirkland, Molina, Lara, Williams) have to go to. The other two are Cotto and Saul Alvarez (39-0-1, 29 KO) AKA "Canelo."

Bundrage might not immediately get Cotto, but he'll get the exposure on cable television and chance to upset a few young men in more lucrative fights than the ones he's currently taking.

Cotto, Canelo, Cornelius has a nice ring to it. K-9 Better make it happen before it's too late.

James Kirkland (30-1, 27 KOs) faces Carlos Molina (19-4-2, 6 KOs) in a brutal junior middleweight slug-fest on HBO for January 28 of next year according to Boxing Scene.

Kirkland is coming off his career-best knockout win over Alfredo Angulo (20-2, 17 KOs). Kirkland vs. Angulo was a heated back-and-forth scorcher of a matchup that Kirkland put an end to with a flurry in Round 6.

Molina is coming off the utter dismantling of Kermit Cintron (33-5-1, 28 KOs) this past July. Molina's aggression proved to be the key to victory over the proven veteran.

Now both men in their late-20s and entering the prime of their careers will face off in what guarantees to be one of the can't-miss fights of 2012.

The venue has not been revealed yet. With Kirkland being an Austin, Texas native and Molina being from Mexico, a bout between the two in an arena in Mexico or Texas could do great business.

Molina has only had the pleasure of fighting in his home country once his entire professional career and has yet to step foot in a Texas boxing ring. Kirkland's first visit to Mexico was this past November.

Considering the rabid Mexican fan base in both Texas and Mexico, a trip back south could prove lucrative for both parties involved.

Update

HBO is considering Erik Morales (52-7, 36 KO) vs. Danny Garcia (22-0, 14 KO) in a junior welterweight world title match to co-headline with Kirkland vs Molina on January 28 according to Ring Magazine.

Morales is coming off a knockout victory over previously undefeated Pablo Cano (22-1-1, 17 KO) for the WBC junior welterweight world title on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather vs. Victor Ortiz.

Garcia is coming off a hard-won split decision against former world titlist Kendall Holt (27-5, 15 KO) on the undercard of Bernard Hopkins vs. Chad Dawson.